Truss-bridge



VJ. F. HARDESTY.

(No Model.)

TRUSS BRIDGE.

No. 485,689. Patented Nov. 8, 1892..

/cf gE Nrrnn STATES JAMES F. IIARDESTY, OF CAMBRIDGE, OHIO.

TRUSS-BRIDG E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters 'Patent No. 485,689, dated November 8, 1892.

l Application filed March 24, 1892- Serial No. 426,185. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern/ Be it known that I, JAMES F. HARDESTY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cambridge, in the county of Guernsey and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inthe Parts and Construction of Wood, Iron, and Combination Bridges, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates t0 improvements in the construction of bridge-posts, appliances for fastening, and the method of fastening them to the other parts of the bridge. These appliances and the method of their application are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure l is a general side view of a combination-bridge; Fig. 2, a cross-section of a bridge-truss through a double post; Fig. 3, a cross-section of a truss through a single post; Fig. 4, an under view of the connection of a double post to a top chord of a bridge; Fig.

5, a view showing in detail the connection of posts with floor beams and braces. Fig. 6 shows one part of a double floor-beam with places cut in it to fit around the posts.

Similar letters referto similar parts throughout the several views.

In the various gures,A marks the top chord of thebridge; B,thehub-guard C, door-beams; D, iioor-joists E, floor-boards; F, wheel-guard; G, abutments; a, intermediate truss-posts; a', end posts; b, upper post-plate for fastening posts to the top chord; b', stir-rups around post for fastening the hub-guard; c, pin connecting lower chords, brace-rods, and lower postplate together; c', bridge-shoe; d, Hoor-beam brace-plate; d', lugs for fastening floor bracerods; e., fioor brace-rods; f, end caps for top chord; f', brace-rod plates for top chord; g, end truss-rods; g', truss brace-rods; h, lowerchord bars; m, lower post-plate.

In my method of construction the posts a a may be entirely plain and made of any material and of any shape, but preferably of plain castiron cylinders or pipes. They do not need to be dressed smooth in any part, nor do the ends need to be carefully fitted to the parts with which they connect. They may be either single or double, according to the length and required strength of the bridge. They may be placed vertically or battered slightly in order to give lateral stiffness to the truss. They are surmounted at the top with an upper post-plate b, connecting them with the top chord. They then pass down through the floor-beam brace-plate d between two members of a double Hoor-beam cut out so as to tit closely around such posts, and finally they have their lower ends inserted in the sockets of the lower post-plates m, which connect them with the lower chords, brace-rods, che.

The upper post-plate b consists of a plain castfiron plate, on the lower side of which is cast one or more sockets 7c lo, Fig. 4, for receiving the upper ends of the posts, and on the top side of said plate is cast one or more upright projections 'Z Z, Fig. 4, which extend up between the members of the top chord, (or between which upright projections a chord composed of only one-member might pass,) with holes for bolting to said top-chord members.KA

The lower post-plate, Fig. 5, consists of a plain cast-iron plate m, with two or more lugs nn on the under side, with holes through which passes the pin for connecting the parts of the lowerchord and the truss brace-rods, as shown in Fig 2, c being the pin; n n, the lugs; h h, the eye ends of the lower-chord bars; g g, the lower ends of two truss-rods. Said plate also has on its upper side one or more sockets forreceiving the lower ends of the truss-posts o, ct.

The floor-beam brace-rod plate consists of a plain cast-iron plate d, Fig. 5, resting on the top of the Hoor-beams and having holes through which the posts a a may pass to the lower post-plate fm, and also having small holes through which to put screws to fasten the said plate to the floor-beams, and, further, having at the end projections d d with holes for receiving the ends of the floor brace-rods The bridge-shoe c consists of a plain castiron plate with one or more sockets for receiving the ends of the end posts and also with lugs cl d', similar to those on the floorbeam brace-rod plate, for receiving the ends the floor-brace rods.

The method of constructing a bridge is as follows: The bridge-shoes c c are placed in position. The end posts a a are then put up. The licor-beams C C are then put in proper place, supported by false-work. The ioorbeam brace-rod plates are then put on top of said floor-beams and properly adjusted. The posts a a are then set up and the Hoor-beams fitted closely around such posts, after which the parts of the Hoor-beams are strongly boltedl together. The upper/post-plates b b b b are then put on. Then the members of the top chord A are placed in position and bolted together through the lugs or extensions Hon the upper post-plates. Then the lower postplates m mare putin place. The rodsgg g g and lower chord 7L are then put in position and the Whole drawn up together and properly adjusted, makina: a very rigid structure.

Having thus described the parts of my invention and the method of construction of; a bridge in which the same are, used, what I particularly claiin as inv invention, auddesire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

rod plate d with the plain post a, as described.`

7. The combination of the upper post-plate, the lower post-plate, the Hoor-beam brace-rod plate, as described, and a plain post a, for the 3 5 purposes as substantially set forth` herein. JAMES F. HARDESTY.

Witnesses:

W. R. PALMER, H. L. WILGUs. 

